Buggy-shaft.



G. F. THOMPSON.

BUGGY SHAFT.

APPLICATION rum) MAR. 15, 1909.

1,051 ,648, Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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Has fitter-naps.

GEORGE F. THOMPSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

BUGGY-SHAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Application filed March 15, 1909. Serial No. 483,493.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. THOMPSON, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buggy-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shafts, particularly to buggies and other light vehicles.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for securing the cross bar and shaft together, and also improving and strengthening the connection between the straight and heel portions of the shaft.

My invention consists generally in various constructions and all as herein described and particularly pointed out in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the shaft with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top view of shaft illustrating the manner of securing the shaft to the cross bar. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 4 is a view, partially in section, illustrating a modified means for securing the truss brace to the plate connecting the shaft and cross bar.

In the drawing 2 represents a shaft and 3 a cross bar; 4 is a plate extending along the under side of the shaft and having a lateral extension 5 which fits the under side of the cross bar. Clips 6 are provided to fit over the top of the shaft and have threaded ends with nuts thereon to pass through laterally extended lugs 7 provided on plate 4. This plate has a lip 8 which projects up on the outer face of the shaft to a point near the horizontal middle line thereof, and the plate 9, triangular in form, is fitted on the top of the shaft and has a lip 10 extending down to approach the lip 8, and said plate is secured to the shaft and cross bar by bolts 11 passing therethrough; the lower ends of said bolts passing through the plate 4 and the extension 5. Lugs 14 are formed on the end of the extension 5 and are secured to the cross bar by clips corresponding to those described with reference to the shaft. At the angle formed by the intersection of the shaft and cross bar, I provide upwardly projecting lugs 15 and 16; one on plate 4 and the other on extension 5. These lugs serve as braces to prevent racking and twisting of the shafts. The plate 4 over its middle portion is provided with a threaded socket 17. A truss rod 18 has one end fitting within the parts are assembled on the shaft.

this socket and extends therefrom to the end of the shaft heel terminating in an eye 19 which forms a portion of the shaft coupling. This rod forms the chord of the are described about the heel of the shaft and acts as a truss brace connecting the end of the heel where the coupling is attached and the straight portion of the shaft. The truss rod is curved, as shown, to bring it nearer the heel of the shaft and present a curved line, which will be more pleasing to the eye than a straight rod would be, connecting the ends of the heel portion. A Y-brace 20 has a bearing for the middle portion of the rod 18 and its forked end secured to the heel of the shaft by clips, corresponding to those heretofore described, lugs being provided on the Y-brace in which the threaded ends of the clips are secured. This Y-brace forms an essential feature of the invention, as it materially strengthens and braces the heel of the shaft and in addition presents curved lines and is more ornamental and pleasing to the eye than a straight brace between the truss rod and the heel of the shaft. \Vith this construction, it will be necessary to connect the plate 4 and the truss rod 18 before To avoid this, I provide a construction shown in Fig. 4, in which a lug 21 is provided on plate 4 and depending therefrom and into which the threaded end of the rod 18 is loosely inserted and held by locknuts 22; otherwise, the construction is the same as described with reference to the other figures.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, I prefer to make the shaft in two parts, a straight forward portion and a curved heel portion,

placed end to end and secured to the bottom plate 4 and the top plate 9. I also provide a strap 23 extending from the late 9 down to the end of the heel and he d in place by clips 6, which secure the lower end of the truss rod and the bracket 20.

Instead of using clips clasping the straight and heel portion of the shaft, I may pass.

bolts therethrough. V I regard this as an equivalent construction and one not necessary to illustrate. However, I consider the clip construction the preferable one, as with this the shaft and cross-bar are not weakened, as is the case when bolts are used. It will be observed that with the clip construction the shaft and cross-bar are supported at points beyond the bolts 11 and that as a result these parts are reinforced not only to overcome weakening because of the reduction of cross-sectional area at the bolt holes, but also to prevent relative angular movement.

I claim as my invention,

1. The combination with a resilient wooden shaft provided with a downward curved heel portion, of a cross-bar, a plate secured to the under side of the shaft at a point adjacent the cross-bar, a truss-rod connected at one end with the said plate and at the other end with the lower rear end of the heel portion of the shaft, and a Y-shaped brace having its body part secured to the truss-rod intermediate the ends thereof and having its legs secured independently of each other directly to the curved heel portion of the shaft.

2. The combination with a resilient wooden shaft having a downward curved heel portion, of a cross-bar, two plates positioned respectively above and below the shaft and cross-bar, the lower plate having forward and rearward extensions along the lines of the shaft, vertical bolts extending through the shaft and through the cross-bar .for securing the plates to them, clips connected to the extensions of the lower plate and embracing the shaft at points relatively remote from the said bolts, a truss-rod connected at one end with the said lower plate Copies of this patent may be obtained for and connected at the other end with the lower rear end of the heel portion of the shaft, a Yshaped brace having its body part connected with the said truss-rod intermediate the ends thereof, and having its legs extending to points adjacent the curved heel portion of the shaft, and clips embracing the heel portion of the shaft and serving to connect the legs of the brace thereto independently of each other.

3. The combination with a shaft and a cross-bar of two plates positioned respectively above and below the shaft and crossbar, the lower of the plates being provided with extensions along the lines of the shaft and crossbar, vertical bolts extending through the shaft and cross-bar for securing the plates to them, and clips embracing the shaft and cross-bar respectively and con nected respectively to the said extensions of the lower plate at points beyond the said bolts whereby the shaft and cross-bar are reinforced against flexure and against relative angular movement.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of March 1909.

GEORGE F. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

G. Gr. HANSON, J. A. BYINGTON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

